Electromagnetic metering valve



Jan. 20, 1959 M, FLEURET 2,869,818

ELECTROMAGNETIC METERING VALVE Filed Jan. 3, 1958 2 25 Cous'rmv'r L l/a rmsa 2 I 2 2 ccurldln n nn nnl A 7 \V V fla I uuuuuu wax/ nn n nn\n\ Inn u uu H E E Com'rnrr' M IN VEN TOR.

, United States 7 Figures 1- to 6,11 generally valve according to the present invention. The valve 11 This invention'relates tova'lve 'de'vices,and more particularly to anelec'trical'ly' controlled valve.

The'main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved electrically controlled'valve which is simple m construction, which'is reliable in operation, and which requires'a minimum amount of maintenance.

A' further 'object'of'the invention is to provide an improved ele'ctromagnetically controlled 'valve'of the type employing granular magnetic. particles as the'active me- "dium, the'valve being'relatively "inexpensive to manufacture, being compact in'size, and being arranged so that "the flow "ofliquid thereth'rough may be accurately con- "trolled.

Further objects and advantages of "the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from-the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 isa longitudinal cross sectional view taken through an-electrically operated-valve constructed in accordance with the present'invention.

Figure 2 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical {components of the valve of Figure 1.

Figure 3- is'a circuit diagram, similar to Figure 2, but

showing'the various windings energized so that the mag- *netic forceacting on-the valve magnetic particles are neutralized, holding the valve in an open condition.

-Figure 4 is-an enlarged vertical cross sectional detail '--view takenthrough a portion of the valve of Figures 1 -to3, showing the particles are held against innervalvebody so -as-to sealsaid outlet wall.

manner in which the valve magnetic the porous outlet wall of the Figure 5 is-a cross sectional detail view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the inner valve body employed in'the valve of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is-a schematic wiring diagram showing the electrical connections ofa modified form of electrically -operated valve according to the presentinvention.

drawings, andmore particularly to designates an electromagnetic Referring to the comprises a hollow intermediate casing 12 having a conical outlet portion 13 which merges with an outlet conduit 14. Threadedly engaged on the end of the casing 12 opposite theconduit 14 is a coil housing 15 containing a solenoid 16, said solenoid comprising a winding 17 and a -magnetic core 18, the core being in axial alignment with the intermediate casing 12, as is clearly shown in Figure l. Secured on the outlet conduit 14 and fastened against the conical outlet wall 13 of the intermediate casing 12 is a second coil housing 19 containing a solenoid core 26 said core being mounted on the outlet conduit 14, as is clearly shown in Figure 1. Wound on the magnetic core 20 is a first solenoid winding 21, and surrounding the solenoid winding 21 is a second solenoid winding 22.

As shown in Figure l, the winding 22 is connected in series with the winding 17, and the series-connected windings 17 and 22 are connected through a manually operated switch 23 to a pair of supply conductors 24 and 25 convoltage.

Patented Jan.. 20, 1959 nected to the respective terminals of asource of control The'winding 21'is connected to a pair'of supply conductors 27 and 28 which are connected to the respectiveterrninals of a suitable constant voltage source, such as a battery; or the like.

Designated at '30 is a liquid inlet conduit which is connected by a conventional union coupling 31 to the intermediate portion of the casing 12. Mounted within the intermediate casing 12 is a capsule member 32, said capsule member having the generally cylindrical main *body portion 33 and the porous conically tapering-outlet portion Mat one end which is received within the conical outlet portion 13 of casing 12. An annular sealing washer 35 is secured between the rim portion of the main body '33 of capsule 32 and -thecon1cal outlet portion"13*of casing 12, whereby the space outwardly adjacent the'main body 33 of the capsule is sealed with respect to the space inwardly adjacent the conical wall 13.

The cylindrical main body 33 of the capsule 32 is provided at its intermediate portion with'a porous wall section 36 which is locatedsubstantially in alignment with the inlet conduit -33. The end wall 37 of capsule 32 is sealingly secured against an annular sealing collar 38 'dis- --posed between the end wall 37 of the capsule'and the 25- solenoid 16, as is clearly shown in Figurel.

The porous conical outlet wall 34 and the porous intermediate wall section 36 of capsule 32 may comprise any i suitablerigid porous material, such as sponge bronze, or

the like.

Disposed within the capsule 32 is a quantity ofcom- -minuted magneticmaterial'39, such as finely divided iron,

or similar granular 'comminuted material. A suflici'ent quantity of-rnagnetic'particles 39 is provided-so that when a magnetic force is developed adjacent theporous. forward wall 3 10f the capsule; the magnetic particles v39 will collect on the inner surface thereof. and will seal off said inner surface to .a degree in accordance with the strength of the magnetic field.

Under normal conditions the switch 23 is open, as shown in Figure 2, and the constant voltage is appliedto the conductors 2'7 and-28, whereby the coil 21 is maintained in an energized condition. This provides a steady magnetic field of sufficient strength to cause the magnetic particles 39 to collect against the porous conical outlet wall 34. of capsule 32 and to seal said outlet'wall, :maintaining the valve closed.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3; the coils 22. and .17 are wound in a direction opposite .to the coil 21 although the polarity of the applied voltages on the coils is similar. Thus, when the switch23 is-closed, the coils '17 and/ 22 develop a magneto motive force which is opposed to the direction of the magneto motive force provided by coil -21, whereby the-magnetic field associated-- withthe coils 22 and 17 opposes that associated with the constant-voltage coils 21. Therefore, the magnetic force-of the coil-2l is neutralized by the magnetieforce developed by the coils 17 and 22 to a degree depending upon themagnitude of the control'voltage applied'to the conductors 24 and 25.

Neutralization of the magnetizing force exerted on the particles 39 by the coil-21 causes the particles to be released irom the" porous conical outlet wall 34 of capsule and thus opens the valve to adegree-dependingupon theamount of such neutralization. Thus, the rate ofzflow through the valve may be controlled by varying the control voltage applied to the conductors 24 and 25.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, clearance is provided between the porous outlet wall 34 and the conical outlet wall 13 by forming the inside surface of the conical wall 13 with the radial grooves 40, shown in Figure 5, The grooves iii provide clearance space between the conical porous wall 34 and the outlet wall 13 to allow liquid to flow therethrough to the outlet conduit 14,

As is clearly shown in Figure l, the capsule 32 is mounted within the intermediate casing portion 12 and is smaller in diameter than said casing portion, so that liquid is allowed to enter the casing portion and flow into the space externally adjacent to the capsule 32. The liquid fiows through the porous intermediate portion 36 of the capsule and thence fiows through the porous outlet wall 34 of the capsule into the conical portion 13 of casing 12 and thence to the outlet conduit 14. As above explained, flow of the liquid can be blocked by energizing the coil 21 and maintaining coils 22 and 17 deenergized, namely, by keeping switch 23 open, as shown in Figure 2. To control the rate of flow, the switch 23 may be closed and the voltage applied to the conductors 24 and 25 may be varied in accordance with the desired rate of flow through the valve.

Figure 7 diagrammatically illustrates a modified form of valve which may be employed merely as a shut-off valve. Thus, a coil 21 is provided on the core 20 (not shown) which is mounted around the outlet portion of the valve, as in the previously described form of the invention. A second coil 17', similar to the coil 17 in the previously disclosed form of the invention is provided, wound around a suitable core and secured adjacent the opposite end of the capsule in axial alignment therewith and with the coil 21, being wound in opposition to the coil 21. Suitable manually operated switch means is provided for selectively energizing either the coil 21 or the coil 17' from supply conductors 27 and 28 connected to the respective poles of a constant voltage source. Thus, a single pole double-throw switch 50 may be provided, the pole of the switch being connected to the supply wire 27' and the respective stationary contacts of the switch being connected to respective wires 51 and 52, leading to respective terminals of the coils 17' and 21'. The remaining terminals of the coils may be connected to the supply wire 28, as shown.

. Thus, when the pole 53 of switch 50 is in engagement with the contacts 52, the coil 21 is energized, providing a magneto motive force which attracts the magnetic particles 39 against the porous conical outlet wall 34 of the capsule 32, closing the valve. When the switch pole 53 is adjusted so that it engages the contact connected to the terminal conductor 51, coil 21 becomes deenergized and coil 17 becomes energized, reversing the direction of the magneto motive force and attracting the magnetic particles 39 toward the end of the capsule opposite to the porous wall 34, whereby the valve is opened.

As in the previously described form of the invention, the liquid enters the inlet conduit 30 and flows through the outlet conduit 14, when the when coil 21 is deenergized and above described.

While certain specific embodiments of an improved electrically operated valve have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as valve is opened, namely, coil 17' is energized, as

defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a valve of the character described, a hollow main body including an inlet port and an outlet port, a hollow capsule secured in said main body, sealing means between the main body and the capsule to prevent we adjacent said inlet port and a second porous wall portion adjacent said outlet port, granular magnetic sealing material in said capsule, and a magnetizing winding on said body adjacent said second porous wall portion and being formed and arranged to attract said magnetic sealing material into sealing contact with said second porous Wall portion when energized.

2. In a valve of the character described, a hollow main body including an inlet port and an outlet port, a hollow capsule secured in said main body, sealing means between the main body and the capsule to prevent direct flow of fluid from the inlet port to the outlet port, said capsule having a first porous wall portion adjacent said inlet port and a second porous wall portion adjacent said outlet port, granular magnetic sealing material in said capsule, a magnetizing Winding on said body adjacent said second porous wall portion and being formed and arranged to attract said magnetic sealing material into sealing contact with said second porous wall portion whe nenergized, and a second magnetizing winding on said body formed and arranged to substantially neutralize the magnetic field of the first-named winding when energized.

3. In a valve of the character described, a hollow main body including an inlet port and an outlet port, a

hollow capsule secured in said main body, sealing means between the main body and the capsule to prevent direct flow of fluid from the inlet port to the outlet port, said capsule having a first porous wall portion adjacent said inlet port and a second porous wall portion adjacent said outlet port, granular magnetic sealing material in said capsule, a magnetizing winding on said body adjacent said second porous wall portion and being formed and arranged to attract said magnetic sealing material into sealing contact with said second porous wall portion when energized, and a pair of magnetizing windings on said body axially aligned on opposite sides of said capsule and being formed and arranged to substantially neutralize the magnetic field of the first-named winding when energized.

4. In a valve of the character described, a hollow main body including an inlet port and a conical outlet port, a hollow capsule secured in said main body, sealing means between the main body and the capsule to prevent direct flow of fluid from the inlet port to the outlet port, said capsule having a first porous wall portion adjacent said inlet port and a conical second porous wall portion received within said outlet port, granular magnetic sealing material in said capsule, a first magnetizing winding on said body adjacent said second porous wall portion and being formed and arranged to attract said magnetic sealing material into sealing contact with said second porous Wall portion when energized, and a pair of additional magnetizing windings on said body axially aligned on opposite sides of said capsule and being formed and arranged to substantially neutralize the magnetic field of the first-named winding when energized.

Pare Nov. 4, 1952 Germer Mar. 2, 1954 

